Edge connectors for printed circuit panels



Aug. 3, 1965 A. B. CLEWES EDGE CONNECTORS FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT PANELS Filed July 27, 1961 FIG. 5.

lNvEN'foR HNToNY BRHSHER CLEWES,

ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,199,064 EDGE CONNECTORS FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT PANELS Antony Brasher Clewes, Sherwood, Nottingham, England, assignor to United-Carr Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,208 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-134) This invention relates to edge connectors for panels having electrical circuitry, printed etched or otherwise marked thereon.

Such edge connectors comprise a body of insulating material having a series of longitudinally arranged contact-receiving apertures, an edge of a printed circuit panel being insertable into a longitudinal slot defined by the series of apertures such that contacts in said apertures engage selected parts of the circuitry of the panel.

The number of contact-receiving apertures in such connectors varies according to the needs of the user which may demand a single contact or any number of contacts. Heretofore it has been the practice to form the strips with integral end flanges as a single piece moulding of synthetic plastic, and this necessitates a separate costly moulding tool for each different size of connector strip.

According to the present invention an edge connector comprises a body of insulating material provided with a series of contact-receiving apertures and a longitudinal panel-receiving slot defined by such apertures, one or both ends of the body having a separate end piece detachably secured thereto; the or each end piece being provided with means for engaging the adjacent end portion of the body to detachably secure it thereto and also being provided with means enabling the end piece to be detachably secured to a support.

An important advantage of the invention is that the body portion of the connector can be moulded in standard lengths which will provide the maximum number of contact-receiving apertures likely to be required. If less than the maximum number of contact apertures is required the long length is cut or sawn through transversely to provide the desired length and an end piece assembled With one or both ends of the body.

An end piece will normally be assembled with each end of the body but if desired an end piece may be provided at one end only, the opposite end of the body being formed with integral means for connecting it to a support.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an end piece;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing an end piece assembled with the body and insulating material; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of the body as shown in FIGURE 4.

As shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings the edge connector includes a moulded body member 1 formed from insulating material and provided with a series of contact-receiving apertures which define a longitudinal slot 1 for receiving a printed circuit panel inserted into the slot edgewise. The body 1 is formed adjacent the lower end of its sidewalls with a tapered flange 2 and the underface of the body is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced. transversely extending grooves 3. v

To enable the body member 1 to be secured to a support each end has an end piece detachably secured thereto. As shown the end piece is formed of sheet metal, for examplecarbon steel, and includes an end wall 4 and laterally spaced side walls 5 and 6. These side walls are formed with inwardly extending lugs 7 at the upper end and an outwardly inclined flange 8 at the lower end, lugs 9 extending inwardly of the lower end of the flange. The end wall 4 is also provided with a rearwardly extending portion 10 having an aperture 11 for receiving a rivet, screw, or the like for securing the end piece to a support.

The end piece may be assembled with a body member 1 by sliding the side walls 5 and 6 downwardly over the adjacent end of the side walls of the body until the lugs 9 engage the flange 2. Axial pressure is then exerted to force the end piece downwardly over the flange until the lugs 9 snap over the lower edge thereof and engage in adjacent grooves 3. In this position the end piece will be secured by the lugs 7 extending over the upper face of the body 1 and the lugs 9 engaging in the transverse grooves in the underface thereof, the end wall 4 abutting the adjacent end wall of the body.

It will be understood that the flanges 8 are inclined at approximately the same angle as the sloping faces of the flange 2 of the body and further they are sufi'iciently resilient to flex outwardly as the end piece is forced down- Wardly into final assembly with the body.

As shown the portion 10 projects outwardly of the end face of the body and serves to enable it to be secured to a support.

In use a printed circuit panel is adapted to be inserted into the slot 1 so that parts of the printed circuit diagram will be engaged by contacts assembled in the apertures adjacent the slot.

As shown the end wall 4 of the end piece is formed with an outwardly bent portion forming a groove or recess 12 which serves to accommodate the outer edge portion of the panel which is located outwardly of the area formed with printed circuitry.

In general practice an end piece as described above will be attached to each end of the body member 1 but in certain cases a single end piece will be assembled with only one end of the body.

The body portion 1 may be moulded in any convenient length and have any desired number of contact-receiving apertures. As, however, connector strips in general use are normally of relatively small cross section, if they are moulded in very long lengths difiiculties are encountered on account of bowing and shrinkage.

Forty contact-receiving apertures is considered to be a reasonable maximum for normal requirements and such lengths can be moulded without encountering the difiiculties referred to.

Accordingly bodies of approximately this standard length can be mass produced, the bodies being cut to any desired length, and a detachable end piece attached to one or both ends of the cut lengths. Thus, the cost of making a separate moulding tool for making each of a wide range of different connectors is obviated.

I claim:

An edge connector comprising a body member, an end piece, and a series of contacts, said body member provided with a base portion and a pair of walls in parallel spaced relation with each other integral with and extending from said base portion, each of. saidwalls having an external surface and an internal surface, said internal surfaces defining a longitudinal slot, said body member having at least one terminal end, each of said external surfaces provided with an integral tapered flange extending therefrom proximate said base portion, said-end piece comprising an end wall and laterally spaced side walls extending from said end wall, each of said side walls having a top edge, a bottom edge, an inwardly extending leg integral with said top edge and an'outwardly inclined flange integral with said bottom edge, each of said flanges having engagement legs extending inwardly of said flange, said flanges engaging said tapered flanges of said body member and said legs engaging the upper surfaces of said walls of said body member whereby said 6 terminal end is closed oil and said end piece having means of engaging a support and said contacts being engaged within said walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,636,067 4/52 Kraft 339198 2,680,233 6/54 McFarlin 33921 2,882,511 4/59 Mason 339-176 10 2,946,033 7/60 Wirth 339176 X 2,953,766 9/60 Clewes 339-47 2,994,056 7/61 Fox 339-17 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 1,164,725 5/58 France. 1,232,628 4/60 France.

625,594 2/36 Germany.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. 

